Closure fastener



Aug. 1, 1933. 1. B. RUEGG CLOSURE FASTENER Filed July so, 1952 A 4 0 mePatented Aug. 1, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The invention aims to provide a new and improved fastener for swingingsashes, vents or other kinds of closures, and in attaining this end, afurther object is to provide an advantageous resilient connectionbetween the latch and the latch carrier which is attached to theclosure, said resilient connection allowing for any slight variation insetting of the striker with which the latch cooperates and serving togive tension to l hold the sash or the like tightly closed, yet allowingleeway for variations in the sash or the like caused by shrinkage,swelling, sagging, warping, etc.

A still further object is to provide a fastener of simple andinexpensive construction, yet one which will be eflicient, reliable andlong-lived.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplishedby reference to the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the fastener applied.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the latch released.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a disassembled perspective view of the casing which forms thecarrier for the swingable latch.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the latch, the spring which holds thislatch applied, and the additional springs which establish the abovementioned resilient connection between the latch and the casing.

A preferred construction has been disclosed and will be specificallydescribed, with the understanding however that minor variations may bemade within the scope of the invention as claimed.

The numeral 7 denotes a latch carrying casing of substantiallyrectangular form having two opposed walls 8 and 9, and two additionalopposed walls l0 and 1l substantially at right angles to said walls 8and 9, said casing being provided also with end walls 12 and with anattaching flange 13 through which screws or the like 14 may be passed tosecure the casing to a sash or other closure 15. Additional, longerfasteners 16 are also passed through parts of the casing to assist inattaching said casing to the sash or the like 15. The casing wall 9 maywell be separate from the other parts of the casing 55 and merelyclamped between the latter and the sash or the like 15. Both this casingWall and other portions of the casing are formed with suitable openings17 to receive the fasteners 14 and 16.

The casing side wall 8 is formed with a preferably rectangular opening18 through which a substantially J-shaped latch 19 passes loosely, thecurved end 20 of said latch not only constituting a handle for releasingit, but forming a cam nose for engagement with a striker 21 secured tothe 65 closure frame 22, so that such engagement of cam and striker willmove the latch to released position as the closure is shut, allowing thelatch to snap into engagement with said striker. Preferably, thisstriker is in the form of an upstanding lug on an attaching plate 23,and the striker-engaging portion of the latch 19 is formed by a socket24 in the side of said latch toward the casing wall 11.

A T-head 25 is provided for the latch 19, said T-head being confinedwithin the casing 7. The side of this T-head toward the casing wall 8 isformed with sockets 26 in which coiled springs 27 are seated, saidspring abutting said side wall 8 and serving to hold the opposite side27 of said T-head against the casing wall 9, as seen in Fig. 2, when thelatch 19 is in engagement with the striker 21. A latch spring 28 assistsin holding the latch in this position, said spring being seated in asocket 29 in the head 25 and abutting the casing wall 1l. This springforces the head 25 toward the casing side wall 10, and the latter is soshaped at 30 to constitute a fulcrum about which the head and latch mayrock. Incident to rocking of the latch in releasing direction, thecorner 31 of the head 25, slides upon the casing 90 side wall 9. Thiscorner is at the side of the latch remote from the striker-engagingsocket 24, and as said corner slides upon the wall 9 and the latch rocksabout the fulcrum 30 in releasing direction, said latch moves in such amanner that the socket 24 moves outwardly a slight distance away fromthe casing 7, as shown in Fig. 3. It is thus insured that even if theclosure 15 does not entirely shut, the striker 21 may at least startinto the socket 24, and by then moving the latch 19 home by hand, thesash will be tightly fastened. If this movement of the latch does notdraw the sash tightly closed, the springs 27 will compress to allow thefinal movement of the latch. These springs also allow for slightinaccuracy in locating the striker 21 and allow for various inaccuraciesin the sash or the like 15, caused by shrinkage, swelling, sagging,warping, etc. It is thus insured that regardless of any minor defectswhich would prevent latching of conventional closure fasteners,

the present invention Will effectively operate to fasten the closure.

As above stated, the details disclosed are preferably followed, butattention is again invited to the fact that within the scope of theinvention as claimed. minor variations may be made.

I claim:-

1. A closure fastener comprising a casing for attachment to the closure,said casing having two opposed walls one of which is formed with anopening, a latch passing loosely through said opening and projectingfrom said casing, the projecting portion of said latch having a portionat one of its sides to engage a striker, said latch having a T-headrockaoly received within the casing to allow pivotal movement of thelatch, compression springs between said one wall of the casing and oneside of said T-head, said springs holding the other side of said T-headagainst the casing side wall opposite said opening, said T-head having acorner at the side of the latch, opposite said striker-engaging portionadapted to slide upon the last mentioned casing wall when the latch isrocked in releasing direction to canse slight moven ment of saidstriker-engaging portion away from the casing, and spring means in saidcasing for normally rocking said latch in the opposite direction.

2. A ciosure fastener comprising a casing having two opposed verticalwalls, one of which is formed with an opening, means for xedly securingsaid casing to a closure with the other of said walls disposed towardsaid closure, and a substantially horizontal latch extending throughsaid opening and having a socket in its lower side to receive a striker,said latch having its outer end curved upwardly to provide both a caninose and a handle, said cam n ose being adapted to strike the abovementioned striker to tilt the latch preparatory to reception of thestriker in said socket when shutting the closure, said handle beingadapted releasing the latch when opening the closure, said latch havinga horizontal T--head within said casing allowing vertical swinging ofthe latch for engagement with and disengagement from the striker, saidT-head also allowing' slight lateral swinging of said latch to insurealinement of the socket and striker.

3. A closure fastener comprising a casing having two opposed v-ei ticalwalis one of which is formed with an opening, in is for iixedly securingsaid casing to a closure th the other of said walls disposed toward saidclosure, a substantially horizontal ix'tending through said opening andhaving a socket in its lower side to receive a striker, iatch having itsouter end curved upwardly to provide hoth a cam nose and a handle, saidcani nose seing adapted to strike the above mentioned striker to tiltthe latch preparatfwv reception of the stv :er in said socket 'when ling the closure, handle being adapted for rele sing the iatch whenopening the closure, ,i latch having a horizontal T-head within saidwing vertical swinging of the latch for agement with and disengagementfrom the ker, T--head allowing slight lateral ffmniginfY of iatch toinsure alinement of the socket f and si 'ig means engaging .Cd T--head'i on wall of said casing and nf amally hol! i Q; said T-fhead tiitablyagainst said v* er wall of said casing.

JOSEPH B. RUEGG.

